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04/20/26 07:01:00
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04/20 18:35 CDT Draymond Green predicts Steve Kerr won't be back. The Warriors
can't imagine life without him
Draymond Green predicts Steve Kerr won't be back. The Warriors can't imagine
life without him
By JANIE McCAULEY
AP Sports Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) --- Draymond Green made one thing clear on podcast Monday
morning: He doesn't expect coach Steve Kerr to stick around with the Golden
State Warriors.
"I hope he's our coach next year. You want my opinion? I think not, just
because it just feels like that, it felt like that was it," Green said on "The
Draymond Green Show." "I also hope I'm on this team next year. We also don't
know that."
The offseason will hardly feel settled for anybody around Golden State, given
the uncertainty of Kerr's future following a loss to the Phoenix Suns in the
play-in tournament that ended the Warriors' season.
Kerr just completed a two-year contract worth $35 million.
The 60-year-old has won four championships during his 12 seasons leading the
Warriors, who dealt with season-ending injuries to Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody
and the long absence of Stephen Curry to finish 10th in the Western Conference.
After beating the Los Angeles Clippers in the first play-in tournament game,
Golden State lost 111-96 on Friday at Phoenix.
Near the bench, Kerr pulled Curry and Green together and said: "I don't know
what's gonna happen next, but I love you guys to death and I thank you. I
appreciate you." The exchange wasn't something Kerr knew would be posted by the
NBA on social media.
"I've never been so uncertain since early in my career on what happens next,
but I'm truly at a loss now because you just don't know what direction will be
what," Green said. "Steph, myself, Steve, shared a moment in what could be our
last time playing with Steve as our coach. I'm happy we got to share that
moment and he didn't miss the moment. It was a big deal."
Forward Gui Santos is hopeful of the group staying together.
"They did so much for the organization. Steve, Steph, Draymond, all of them are
a big part of the organization," Santos said. "I love being coached by Steve.
Draymond, I love having Draymond on the team. Steph, I don't need to say
nothing about him. Steph is Steph. It would be great to have all of them
together next year, too."
The three have been together since Kerr came on board. He owns a 604-353
coaching record. His playoff record of 104-48 is nearly unmatched; among
coaches with at least 100 playoff games, his .684 winning percentage is second
only --- and barely --- to his former Bulls coach, Phil Jackson, who went
229-104 (.688).
After the game Friday, Kerr said he would meet with Warriors owner Joe Lacob
and general manager Mike Dunleavy in the coming week or two.
"We'll talk about what's next for the Warriors, what the plan is this
offseason," Kerr said. "And we will come to a collaborative decision on what's
next. I don't know what's going to happen. I still love coaching. But I get it.
These jobs all have an expiration date. There's a run that happens, and when
the run ends, sometimes it's time for new blood and new ideas and all that.
"And, if that's the case, then I will be just nothing but grateful for the most
amazing opportunity any person could have to coach this franchise, in front of
our fans in the Bay and to coach Steph Curry, to coach Dray and the whole
group."
As Santos and most of the other Warriors players met Monday with Kerr for exit
interviews at Chase Center, it was hard to imagine what comes next for the
franchise if he's not around.
"I owe Steve everything," guard Pat Spencer said. "He's been like a second
father to me since I've been here as far as just giving me guidance day in and
day out."
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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
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